Winemaker's Notes:

Our Syrah displays rich blackberry, cassis, espresso, mocha and our signature sage spice aromas and flavors. The silky finish lingers from the ripe tannins and smoky oak. This full-bodied wine should be enjoyed over the next ten years. A traditional pairing for this wine is a rack of lamb marinated in rosemary and garlic. However, a peppercorn steak or mushroom risotto would work incredibly well.

About Zaca Mesa:

Foremost, Zaca Mesa, where our vineyards are rooted, is a place. This elevated plateau with its extraordinary vistas lies within the unique Santa Barbara coastal mountain corridors. Here, the land is softly pained by sunlight, directly cooled by the Pacific windstreams. For over 2000 years its bounties and its beauty were revered by the Chumash Indians. The Spanish settlers who arrived in the 17th century were the ones who named it "La Zaca Mesa," borrowing the word "Zaca" from the Chumash-meaning "peaceful" and adding their own "Mesa" meaning "table."

This land has always driven our approach to farming. Way back in 1978, when Zaca Mesa was established, it was the first Santa Barbara County winery to plant the lush and luscious red/black Rhone grape Syrah. Zaca Mesa's estate program is now dominated by the incredible, blend-able Rhone superstars.

We are committed to the highest quality grapes, so year-round, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Ruben and his crew manage our 246 vineyard acres to maximize the unique character of our fruit. This means conservative cropping, resulting in fewer tons per acre, careful pruning to achieve that delicate balance between vigor and crop, and leaf pulling to encourage healthy cluster development.

Our wines are true to the uniqueness of our estate fruit, with a focus on quality. We are always working with new and exciting varietal blends, wines that pair perfectly with the cuisine of today. A little something off the grill and a glass of Zaca Mesa Syrah (or Chardonnay. or Z Cuvee. or Z Gris), we are proud to bring you our vineyard to your glass.

About Vina Concha y Toro:

Founded in 1883, Viña Concha y Toro is Latin America’s leading producer and occupies an outstanding position among the world’s most important wine companies, currently exporting to 135 countries worldwide. Uniquely, it owns around 9,500 hectares of prime vineyards, which allows the company to secure the highest quality grapes for its wine production. Concha y Toro’s portfolio includes a wide range of successful brands at every price point, from the top of the range Don Melchor and Almaviva to the flagship brand Casillero del Diablo and innovative stand-alone brands such as Palo Alto and Maycas del Limarí. The company has 3,162 employees and is headquartered in Santiago, Chile.

Winemaker's Notes:

This wine was ranked #7 on the Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 1998

The production of premium fortified wine has long been part of the history at Yalumba. Founder Samuel Smith first made port back in the 1860s, and the South Australian Governor (1914-1920) Sir Henry L Galway selected his own personal "pipes" from the Yalumba bodega.

Today Yalumba maintains its reputation for its premium quality fortified wines by occasionally releasing very small parcels of Show Reserve stocks. This old Muscat was sourced from the Rutherglen and other Northern traditional areas of Victoria then blended and stored in French oak puncheons in our marble cellars at Angaston for eight years.

Made from the red and pink clones of the Muscat, a petite grains grape variety, this luscious dessert wine displays all the characteristics of this classic Australian wine style.

About Yalumba:

Yalumba is Australia's oldest family-owned winery, founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith. From modest beginnings, the Yalumba Wine Company has grown to become one of Australia's most successful wineries, owned by 5th generation Robert Hill-Smith. Yalumba regularly receives accolades for its outstanding wines, and for its leadership in viticultural innovation and sustainable farming. Yalumba was the first winery in the world to be recognized with the Climate Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2007), earned the International Green Apple Gold Award from House of Commons (U.K. 2011), and was the first winery outside the United States to win the BRIT International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing Competition (2013). The Yalumba portfolio commences with the fresh and flavorsome varietal wines of the Y Series, then moves up to the Samuel’s Garden line to capture the essence of the classic Rhone-influenced varietals of the Barossa and Eden Valleys, explores sub-regional complexity through innovative, modern wines in the Hand Pickedline, and culminates with the coveted, collectible Yalumba Rare and Fine wines including Signature and Octavius.

Winemaker's Notes:

Bright amber gold with copper hints. The nose reveals fresh raisin fruit backed by a hint of fortifying spirit and aged oak characters while the palate is luscious and mouthfilling with raisin fruit followed by a long finish.

My Notes:

About Campbells:

Campbells produces some of the world's finest dessert wines. This family-owned vineyard and winery uses the "solera" method of blending and maturing new and old wines over a period of years. (Some of the material used for blending is 70, 80, even 90 years old.) The solera, originally made famous by the Spanish and Portuguese, is a series of up to seven casks, each containing wine at successive stages of maturation. The result is a uniformity of quality, age and character that elevates the Campbells brand into a class of its own. Today, when you see the Rutherglen symbol on a bottle of wine, you have a virtual seal-of-authority that it will be very special.

With a 130-year history of winemaking, the fourth generation of Campbells own and manage the vineyards and winery at Rutherglen. The founder of the winery was a Scottish immigrant, John Campbell, who arrived in 1860. A decade later, he began making fortified wines that rivaled the best Europe had to offer. The family still uses the same winemaking methods handed down over successive generations, while incorporating modern viticultural technology. The vineyard now consists of 157 acres, and many of the vines are a century old. Malcolm Campbell is in charge of the family vineyards and farmlands, and his brother Colin is responsible for making the wines

Winemaker's Notes:

Sourced from material aged between six and ten years old, this wine is the foundation of the style; displaying the fresh raisin aromas, rich fruit, clean spirit and great length of flavor on the palate which are the mark of all the Muscats of Rutherglen.

While these wines are seen as after dinner drinks, try serving them as an aperitif, particularly in winter. A small glass goes a very long way, warming the mind as well as the stomach. And remember that a bottle, once opened, will keep for some months without deteriorating, providing it is recorked after each serving.

My Notes:

About Chambers Rosewood:

The Chambers winery has been family owned since its establishment in 1858. The winemaking duties and care of the "old material" have been handed down from father to son through five generations and for the last 40 years has rested with Bill Chambers.

Winemaker's Notes:

Elegant tones of peach and some tropical fruit. Very refined, well structured, mineral acidity combined with an elegant fruitiness and an endless finish. Great pleasure to drink right away and great potential to age for 20 years and more.

My Notes:

Additional wines from Maximin Grunhauser:

About Maximin Grunhauser:

First documented in 966 A.D. the von Schubert estate is not only one of the oldest but also one of the best. They are sole owners (Monopole) of the 3 vineyards (Abtsberg, Bruderberg and Herrenberg) that the estates wines are coming from. Since 1982, Dr. Carl von Schubert manages the estate according to the motto: "As much handling as necessary, but as little as possible", putting him and his wines worldwide in the top class.

Winemaker's Notes:

Dark ruby red in color. Lots of cassis, leather, cigar box, black pepper, pencil lead, espresso bean, and chocolate on the nose. Rich, mouth-coating black cherry and mineral. A very plush and long aftertaste that has concentrated flavors. Sweet tannins and perfect fruit, oak, and acid balance. Will improve for the next 12-15 years and then hold for 10 years more.

About Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards:

Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards are located just east of St. Helena in the Napa Valley where Conn Creek flows out of Howell Mountain. Twenty-six acres of vineyards, divided into nine blocks, along with a fifteen acre-foot reservoir are the heart of this 40-acre grape-growing paradise.

Separated from the Napa Valley floor by a north/south running ridge, the world-renowned wineries of Joseph Heitz and Joseph Phelps are located on the west side of this ridge and the Anderson's Estate Vineyards are on the east side at a perfect elevation of 400 feet.

The vineyards not only enjoy Napa Valley's superb microclimate, but share the same Bale Loam Series as are found on the famous Rutherford Bench. This combination of clay-loam soil and microclimate produces up to 106 tons of exceptional fruit each year. One from which a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blend, called Éloge, can be artfully handcrafted.

Winemaker's Notes:

The Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region is known for the finest Riesling wines in the world. The Mosel yields the softest, broadest and fullest wines, the Saar the steeliest and most austere, the Ruwer the most fragrant, with a fine fruity acidity.

This Riesling is extremely spicy and fruity with aromas of peach and hints of black currant – typical for wines from the Abtsberg in great years. A wine packed with fruit and minerality, powerful and elegant at the same time.

Makes an excellent accompaniment to pâtés and other savory foods as well as desserts, such as soufflés of fresh fruits (strawberries, raspberries or rhubarb).

My Notes:

Additional wines from Maximin Grunhauser:

About Maximin Grunhauser:

First documented in 966 A.D. the von Schubert estate is not only one of the oldest but also one of the best. They are sole owners (Monopole) of the 3 vineyards (Abtsberg, Bruderberg and Herrenberg) that the estates wines are coming from. Since 1982, Dr. Carl von Schubert manages the estate according to the motto: "As much handling as necessary, but as little as possible", putting him and his wines worldwide in the top class.

About Markus Molitor:

Markus Molitor took over his fathers Estate at 20 years of age. Although having been of young age, Markus had a clear vision of wine making. Every vintage and vineyard should show its characteristics. His wines illustrate depth and structure with the typical uniqueness of the Mosel terroir.

Markus Molitor is the largest Estate on the Mosel with 94 acres of vineyard land. Markus produces 95% Riesling, 3% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Blanc.

Winemaker's Notes:

Intense dark garnet-red with a purple rim. On the nose its impressive fresh red berries aromas of ripen cherries and plums develop to the range of candied fruit. It is compact on the palate and reveals smoked notes of mineral and liquorice . Its solid tannins hold the fruit and give structure that is well kept along time.

About Bodegas Ramon Bilbao:

Our winery, which has recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic in Rioja.

At Bodegas Ramon Bilbao we produce the highest quality matured wines, thus increasing both the Denominacion de Origin's and our founder's prestige. Our daily work is based on using the best prime materials, which we choose with the greatest care: grapes from the best estates and vineyards and barrels made of the best oak from European and American woods.

Our aim is to obtain the best matured wines so that you can enjoy a wine for drinking, savouring and tasting again.